planting seeds of sustainability

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I drove past this tree almost daily during the growing season for 3 years. The tree and its house are located right next to the community garden where I had my plot. I saw the tree, but never really looked at it carefully until one day after I returned from a Permaculture educators class. There was THE tree– the tree that David Holmgren included in Design Principle #1– Observe and Interact

How could I have missed this for so long? I clearly was not following the observe part of this design principle. At least not until I was ready, and the tree was ready and the house and property were ready. So on the day I drove by and saw the realtor’s sign and really looked, it was clear to me that this was the homestead I had been hoping for for so long.

Most of my life I have been rather a gypsy. Moving from place to place, not staying too long in one house. From my childhood on, I always longed to live in the country. I have done that several times, but never on an acre. It has taken all these years to build the skills I will need to turn this neglected little spot into an energy efficient, food-producing homestead. Join me on this exciting journey.

Today is exactly one month before my 60th birthday. So it is time to get this project underway. About a month ago I purchased a project. A small utilitarian, cinder-block house on an acre of bottom land both of which have been sorely neglected for some time. Remaining true to the spirit of my misspent youth, I moved in. This makes the BONE house of the late ’70’s seem palatial. I do love challenges, and projects. Here is the plan in very broad strokes.